Buhari’s Exit: Politicians Must Be Humble, Fulfill Election Promises – Lukman

… Says Coalition leaders must be united, build team spirit

By Tom Okpe

An arrow head and member of the Coalition that joined the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mallam Salihu Lukman, has said the death of former President, Muhammadu Buhari is enough indication thàt should force politicians to remàin humble, fulfilling election promises to the people.

He also said it signifies an end to era of raising someone’s hand which automatically, translates to victory, during elections.

Lukman, former National Vice Chairman, North-West, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, specifically called on all leaders in the ADC Coalition to be united, build strong team spirit and a political party that will not only defeat the APC but capable of rescuing Nigerians from the current woes.

Speaking on Wednesday in a popular morning show on Arise Television, the ADC Chieftain said even before late President Buhari passed on, the vacuum had been created, adding that it was quite doubtful if before his death, Buhari, could influence electoral victory in the old way.

“What we must learn, most especially in the Coalition is that, we don’t have somebody with the kind of intimidating profile like that of the late Buhari and what that means is that, leaders in the Coalition needs to be humble and acknowledge that they need one another, developing strong team work. I think that is the challenge we are all facing. Our leaders must have a kind of team spirit.

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“It is not about succeeding to defeat APC and Tinubu, but succeeeding to produce a new, fresh political template that will begin to meet the expectations of Nigerians. That is what I have been emphasizing on. We must try to build a strong political party,” he said.

Mallam Lukman stated that henceforth, politicians must be humble, fulfill campaign promises and negotiate good relationship with citizens.

Also, speaking on the passing of former President Buhari on Channels Television popular programme, Politics Today on Tuesday, Lukman said when the late President was here, most people who aspired for position, instead of going to negotiate good relationship with citizens so that good relationship translates into votes, concentrated more in terms of being in his, Buhari’s, good books.

He said: “I am aware, being somebody from the North, I know that many politicians look forward to him raising their hands and endorsing them, ranslates almost into victory in many places in the North. And that, in a way, made politicians to be lazy.

“Now we don’t have any figure like that, which is why, today I am one of those in the Coalition who keeps raising the point that leaders of the Coalition must remember, we don’t have somebody like late President Buhari anymore, who, when he raises your hand, it translates into victory.

“What that means is that politicians must be humble and begin to engage citizens with more listening ears and disposition when they promise and win election to begin, meeting those expectations of citizens.

“We have to work hard. The challenge of having somebody like late President Buhari now absent in Nigerian politics. Politicians must realize this, especially those who want to contest election, if they are to win election, except if they want to rig, they must be humble and relate to citizens with higher level of humility rather than the current arrogance.”

Mallam Lukman described the late Buhari as a great politician, a contemporary Nigerian saying, “I would say in our history, he stands out as one of those politicians who command a lot of popularity.

“His popularity, especially in the northern part of the country, cannot be in any way doubted, and to a large extent, his popularity made it possible for the APC merger of 2013-2014 to be consummated,” he added.